Manchester United's new season did not start well with a 0-1 home defeat to Arsenal in the opening match, making the question of the reliability of the goal more urgent than ever. Altay Bayindir, who was trusted as a starting forward, made a mistake in the only goal conceded.
The Turkish goalkeeper unsafely intervened in a corner kick that led to Ricardo Calafiori's opening goal. Although captain Ruben Amorim spoke up to defend and determine that there was a mistake from the opponent, it is clear that the defensive mentality was still seriously shaken.
Meanwhile, Andre Onana, who is considered the number one choice in Man United's goal, missed the entire pre-season due to a thigh injury. This creates a gap in the competition for the starting position. Consecutive questions about the form of both Bayindir and Onana have become the motivation for the "Red Devils" to urgently seek a reliable solution for stability in the goal.
British media reported that Man United are making progress in negotiations with Royal Antwerp over goalkeeper Senne Lammens. A new goalkeeper has never been in the plans of the Old Trafford team, unless Andre Onana is sold. However, the situation has changed after the defeat to Arsenal last weekend.
Royal Antwerp are demanding a fee of around £17 million (uro €20 million) for Lammens and negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs. In addition to Man United, other teams such as Chelsea, Inter Milan or Leeds United also expressed their interest in Lammens.
Senne Lammens has been a young goalkeeper that Man United have been watching for quite a while. The club's board consider this the right time to bring him to Old Trafford. The "Red Devils" once offered to borrow Emi Martinez from Aston Villa at the beginning of the transfer window but were unsuccessful. In addition, M.U gave up the opportunity to pursue Gianluigi Donnarumma due to the Italian goalkeeper's high salary requirements.
If Lammens arrives, Bayindir's future will be in a shaky state as he will likely lose his entire reserve goal and could have to leave Old Trafford. As for Onana, the Cameroonian star will stay at Man United until at least the summer of 2026.
Senne Lammens was born in 2002 in Zottegem, Belgium. This goalkeeper is 1.93m tall, and his figure is quite suitable for the Premier League. He grew up at Club Brugge and joined Royal Antwerp in 2023, then quickly affirmed himself as the number 1 goalkeeper of the Belgian team.
To date, Lammens have played 64 Belgian Pro League games for Antwerp, keeping 12 clean sheets last season. The Belgian goalkeeper's strength is his ability to reflect and read situations quickly, going in and out. He is considered one of the most talented goalkeepers of the new generation. In addition to good technique, Lammens is also noted for his calm demeanor and older maturity.
Man United's board is pursuing a "stable and loyal" strategy rather than a temporary one. Bringing a young goalkeeper, starting from a good foundation and possibly playing a long-term role is considered both a strategic investment for the present and a technical solution for the future.
Onana is likely to remain the number 1 goalkeeper but he will have to retire in January 2026 due to attending AFCON. The presence of Lammens helps ensure competitiveness and does not make the goalkeeper position an unstable point during the important period. At the same time, Bayindir must also prove themselves against a formidable opponent, with no chance to "go anywhere" if they continue to be unstable.
Royal Antwerp, with heavy financial pressure (reporting a loss of £10 million last season), is ready to sell Lammens. The Belgian goalkeeper became a suitable target when helping the club avoid losing everything and be able to sell at a high price compared to the actual value.
In the context that Man United has spent more than 200 million pounds on the attack ( Sesko, Cunha, Mbeumo), adding a potential goalkeeper with a moderate salary like Lammens is reasonable at the present time.
